Small business fascinates, particularly as it connects to the community in which it functions. I have spent years in activism, working in corporate environments and as an entrepreneur. This is an outreach of my consulting business to share daily lessons, insights and comments about life in small business.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Generating content

You know, the effort involved in generating meaningful content is substantial. Both of my parents are artists, so I would have thought that I would have come to this realization much earlier in my life.

I had thought because I enjoy the activities of speaking, writing and oration, it would be effortless. Nothing could be further from the truth. Actually, if I am being critical, simply speaking or writing without point is simple and relatively effortless. Writing and speaking cogently, effectively and clearly is what requires the effort.

A client recently told me that most content generated in the English speaking world needs to be done at approximately an 8th grade level. I find this a bit troubling. Are we so incapable of reading? Is our vocabulary so limited?

It is truly shocking how repetitive we are in our patterns of communication. Not that Wikipedia is the end all of information, but this link provides some interesting facts on our language:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_common_words_in_English

What do you think of your language level? How often do you write or speak in a way that isn't casual? On average, I write 50+ emails a day, at least one professional document/article/communication and take at least 10 phone calls. In a week, I will likely speak publicly or in a meeting format a dozen or more times. I don't feel this is a great deal, but I do feel the effort during preparation and in the record keeping.

About Me

Over the last five years, Black Marble Consulting, LLC, has helped its clients raise money for funding and growth. Further, his current focus has been in helping small businesses become more efficient in their operations and marketing resulting in additional profits and margin. Recently Seth was named one of Philadelphia Business Journals Top 40 under 40 in May 2006. Since 2007, he joined the board of directors for the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce focusing on government & public relations and is the current President.
Having won multiple business plan competitions and written dozens of plans, Seth creates winning documents from single owner businesses to small & midsize firms.
Before starting his own ventures, Seth distinguished himself as acting regional marketing director for Sodexo, USA’s Mid Atlantic region, where he managed $200 million in account volume.
He has been actively involved in non-profits, particularly in the areas of alcohol/drug abuse, LGBT fundraising and Chambers of Commerce from 1990 to the present. Areas of passion include reading, physical fitness, cooking and world travel.